Kashi's head was pounding. It was louder than the muffled bass of the music. She shifted, opening her eyes. She had to blink back the brightness. There were flashing yellow lights.
"Hey! Kashi, you alright?" Matthias was standing over where she was now laying in a lawn chair by the poolside.
Kashi just tilted her head in confusion. He handed her a water bottle which she gladly accepted, condensation from the water bottle dripping on her legs.
"You were out there for a minute or two." Matthias said, sitting on the end of her chair. "I set you down then ran to grab you a water. Maybe you should quit with the drinking for tonight."
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Kashi said, feeling groggy. "Sorry if I ruined our moment." She chuckled, staring up at the black sky.
"I'm just glad you're alright." Matthias said, plucking the white and green straps of the lawn chair.
"Do you… want to take a walk around with me? The music is kind of loud, I think it would be fun." Kashi made a move to stand up, her head aching in protest. She ignored it, not wanting to sit down anymore. "They have a really pretty garden." She waved her hand in the direction of a massive plot of land that was indeed well landscaped with trees, plants, flowers, and water features of all kinds.
He offered her his arm so the two could walk across the patio towards the garden. It was lit with quaint lamp posts along the white gravel paths. Kashi's flip-flops clicked as they neared. Away from all the people, the nighttime breeze blew against her, goosebumps rising on her skin. She failed to suppress her shudder.
"Chilly huh?" Matthias grinned. "It's a shame to cover up that pretty bikini top, but if you're chilly…"
Kashi didn't have time to protest before he took his t-shirt off and slid it over her head. She put her arms through the sleeves with a smile. "Won't you be cold?"
"Nah, as long as you're comfortable." a wink.
They walked into the garden, two leafy trees standing on either side of the entrance. Light green ground cover filled the space between the bushes, rocks and ferns. There was a shallow fountain up ahead, illuminated from lights within, the water shooting up in a beam of blue-white light.
Kashi slid her hand into his, swinging her arm as she walked towards the fountain. HIs t-shirt was so long it nearly reached her knees. She refrained from sighing. Matt was different from Carr. Just because they looked similar, didn't mean they were similar. Besides, Matt was a tad leaner with blond hair to Carr's brown. And Matthias smiled more. Carr had always been a ranch hand, this was a new career to Matt.
Kashi turned to face Matthias as they came upon the circle of white gravel where the fountain sat in the center. A breeze made the trees around them rustle.
"Did you mean it, back there when you said you were sorry about ruining the moment?" Matthias asked, brushing a strand of Kashi's hair behind her ear. "Because if you did," a shiver ran through her as his hand moved to touch her cheek, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "we could fix it here."
Kashi's stomach flopped, something deep inside of her tightening. Nerves or excitement, she wasn't sure. Her mind was eddied of responses, her lips refused to form the words, but she didn't have to respond verbally. She moved her hands, one to his shoulder, letting her fingers press gently into the muscle as they slid to the base of his neck. Her other hand reached to run through his hair. Her fingers caught in the slight tangle of the waves of the blonde hair. His lips met hers and with his sharp inhale that made Kashi's stomach jump, she kissed him back, moving her lips against his.
She tried not to tug on his hair as she fisted it, pressing her other hand into his shoulder, moving it down to his chest. She could feel the racing pulse beneath her flat palm. His arms were around her shoulders, moving in circles that made her want to—
"Hey!"
The two jumped apart as Carr came barreling down the path towards them. He didn't even glace at Kashi, her heart pounding harder than it had a moment ago, instead going up to Matthias and shoving him, a hand into his shoulder. Matthias stumbled back, conceding a step to Carr.
"What the hell is your problem Matthias?" Carr's voice was loud enough to ring clear through the garden, drowning out the sound of the pumping bass from the party mere feet away. There was something unchecked in his eyes that made Kashi recoil. It was downright frightening.
Matthias had raised his hands defensively, stepping back a pace to leave room between the two of them. "Kashi is her own woman Carr, the moment she asks me to stop I'll let go. You know I will." Something hardened in Matt's voice when he spoke his last sentence. Something that made Carr straighten a little. Almost imperceptibly.
Carr shook his head, the motion dripping with disgust. "You'll put your lips on any pretty little thing that comes your way." Carr moved, his body now between Matt's and Kashi's. "I won't let you do it this time. Not to Kashi. She's too good for you."
Kashi didn't have space in her brain to realize what the words Carr spoke meant. How he felt about her. No. She was focused on the fact that these boys had a history together. And not a friendly one. "I won't let you do it this time." Carr said. His words were laced with venom. But… was it true?
"Carr, what are you talking about?" Kashi stepped on the ledge of the fountain, making herself eye level with the two. "I'm sorry whatever we did didn't go the way you planned," she was truly sorry. She hoped he could read it on her face, "but that's no excuse to pin things on Matt. He's been nothing but considerate to me."
"Look Kashi, I don't know why I hid it. Mostly because I was afraid you wouldn't feel the same, but I really did want to pursue something with you. It felt different." He looked over to Matthias who was watching the exchange critically, his eyes darting between the two of them, examining. "Look maybe Matt has changed, but I've known him for a while and his history speaks for itself."
Kashi's shoulders dropped as the weight of what he was saying sunk into her. "Carr—"
"Kashi I like you. I do. A lot. And even if you don't reciprocate the feeling, it was worth it to make sure you didn't get hurt. And I'm sorry it took me so long to say something."
She felt like her heart was going to rip. She'd been so angry. She hadn't even let herself consider that perhaps he'd—
"And to ease the confusion that is still marked plainly on your features Kashi," Matt began, glancing at Carr as if to dare him to stop him or interrupt. Carr did no such thing. "Your friend here and I, are brothers."